Three years after confirming its first openly gay bishop, the U.S. Episcopal Church must decide whether to appease irate Anglicans by promising not to do it again – at least for now.
The choice puts a heavy burden on the Episcopal General Convention, which starts today in Columbus, Ohio: If Anglican leaders don’t like the outcome of the American meeting, the world Anglican Communion could break apart.
New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, who lives with his longtime male partner, became an icon for gay acceptance after the 2003 General Convention, where his election was approved.
His supporters contend the Bible does not bar monogamous gay relationships; detractors hold that Scripture explicitly condemns gay sex.
Anger over Robinson’s elevation has echoed throughout the 77 million-member communion, where conservative views dominate. The Episcopal Church, the U.S. arm of Anglicanism, has scrambled to calm the worldwide furor.
Conservatives are a minority within the 2.3million-member church, which has been shaken by infighting but remains intact.
The largest threat, according to liberals, is the formation of the Pittsburgh-based Anglican Communion Network.
The association represents 10 U.S. dioceses and more than 900 traditional parishes that oppose ordaining gays. The network remains part of the Episcopal Church for now but has separated from Episcopal leaders and is working closely with conservative archbishops overseas.
The key decision before delegates is their response to the 2004 Windsor Report.
That document was written by an international panel on Anglican unity, which asked for a moratorium on electing partnered gay bishops and a temporary ban on creating official prayer services for blessing same-sex couples.
The Episcopal committee has not backed a moratorium but proposed that dioceses “exercise very considerable caution” in bishop elections from now on. The panel also suggested a temporary bar on same-gender liturgies but used wording that leaves an opening for individual priests to conduct the ceremonies informally.
Convention delegates can revise or reject the proposals.
